It is mostly about stories on the Korean people’s struggles against the U. S. bases in Korea. Hope many of you find some clues and sources here. Please just be kind and fair to the source.많은 분들께서 여기에서 단서들과 자료들을 찾길 바랍니다. 다만 단서와 자료의 기원에 대해 친절하고 공정하게 표기해 주시면 감사하겠읍니다.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

People's press are ready in a key spot of protest, in the Gangjeong village, Jeju Island in the morning of Aug. 31! World will watch any South Korean government violence against its people, if any, today! Go, people!
(photo resource: via FACEBOOK)____________________________RELATED UPDATE COLLECTION[URGENT PLEA: In Update] EMERGENCY in GANGJEONG Since Aug. 24, 2011_______________________________
UPDATE ON Aug. 31

PLEASE CHECK the following TWITTER and FACEBOOK for more updates. The below are citations from the FACEBOOK this morning.

At 7: 30am, Aug. 31, 2011, a written message from the Gangjeong vilage reads reads state crack down is expected today.

2011년 8월 31일 7시 30분, 강정 마을로부터 오늘 공권력 탄압이 예상된다는 문자 메시지를 받았습니다.

We've noticed that in 10 c'clock am, policemen will enter to excute their official duty- set up 'warning boards' and extend the fence blocks the road to beach. All of us here are preparing this situation. please pray for us..

Police are expected to invade people at 2 pm. But people are determined. Currently catholic missal is held at the gate of the construction spot and police are watching. Check photos at http://twitter.com/#!/thinkunit/media/gridTop photos are most latest.
PlEASE CHECK FOR ANY UPDATES!
..............................

The police restrained three people since Aug. 24. The navy and construction companies such as Samsung are attempting to continue construction. The police even interrupted people's peaceful candle vigil since Aug. 28. But determined people will SAVE GANGJEONG and the Gureombee rocky coast, OUR MOTHER, OUR LOVE!

'Lawmakers from five opposition parties hold a rally to demand President Lee Myung-bak come up with measures to peacefully resolve the dispute over the construction of a naval base in Gangjeong Village in Jeju Island, Monday. [Yonhap]

Jeju District Court's Obstruction of DemocracyTuesday, August 30, 2011

Yesterday the Jeju District Court granted an injunction to the Navy and the central government to forbid resident demonstrations against the seizure of their homes and farms, and the destruction of one of Jeju Island's most beautiful coasts (South Korea's only natural dolphin habitat) to make way for a massive naval base to house warships meant to intimidate China.

The court rejected an application by residents challenging the state seizure, demolition of the coastline, and destruction of the soft coral habitat. The residents argued that the state did not follow democratic due process and and failed to adequately assessment of the environmental damage to the coastline. .

The court said the residents and their supporters must not return to the residents' homes and farms, now a state military construction site.

People who attempt to return to their property would be fined 2 million won ($1,863).

Local residents have been joined by democratic and environmentalist activists and religious leaders from all over Korea. They are supported by environmentalist, democratic, and religious supporters worldwide, including scholars and luminaries such as Gloria Steinem.

In a replay of South Korea's worst periods of military dictatorship, the state has sent in hundreds of riot police, who are mostly conscripted youth, most of whom appear confused, embarrassed, and unhappy about having to perpetrate threat of violence or violence upon their fellow citizens.

South Korea is similar to North Korea in the authoritarian attitude of the ruling elite; although South Korea is not totalitarian like North Korea. Although citizens have engaged in movements for democracy for decades, repressive governments intent on maintaining privileges for corporations, have thwarted these movements. South Korea is known for severe state violence against its citizens, including massacres. In April, 1948, one of the worst massacres in Korean history took place at Jeju Island. Many of the demonstrators are descendants of that massacre.

'The Mayor of Gangjeong village, Jeju Island, South Korea was arrested violently while asking construction workers not to erect an illegal 250 ton crane to build a Naval base.'

Benj D'Amour says'Mayor Kang's wife waiting in front of the police station for his husband to be released'

Sung-Hee Choi says
"They met when they were high school students. His wife was the one who has taken charge of all her family's livelihood while mayor has thoroughly devoted himself in struggle. They love each other very much. And it was always sad to see her tears"

_____________________
Free Kim Jong-Hwan, Gangjeong villager(54)!

Matt Hoey says,'Uncle Kim Jong-hwan was arrested on August 24. This image was taken on July 31. He and the dog are inseparable - always together. When Uncle is not cooking for the peace camp and the young peace activists who visit Guromby Rock (site of the naval base) he sits under his tent as you see here. He is a living saint and should be freed from prison immediately.'

'I have not had a good meal since I last ate his cooking. One of the many reasons why I cannot wait to come back. It is amazing how he can pull a multicourse meal together for two dozen people, three times per day, everyday! Remarkable : )'

Regina Pyon says:
'Uncle Kim Jong-hwan who was arrested on August 24. This photo was taken on July 24 when he chained himself at the entrance road to Guromby to block police. He has endured so humid and hot summer days in a small tent kitchen cooking for us and visitors. Photo by director Cho.'

Kim Seong-Han says:
'I vividly remember that moment when Dr. Song was back to the village from the jail. That night at the front of community hall yard, when they hugs each other, I saw the most beautiful eyes of uncle Kim. I saw something like, admire, respect, trust, friendship, honest, and strong will. There were nothing harm, wrong or violent. They taken away good man from the Guromby.

__________________________
Free Kim Dong-Won, photographer(25)!

MacGregor Eddy says,'Kim Dong-Won who is in jail with Uncle Jonghwan and the Mayor Kang'

Dauri says,
" Dongwon has bowed 100 times every morning and night praying peace in the Joongduk coast."

The photographer of Hankyoreh 21, a weekly magazine, must have gotten the sense of his urgency. Dong-Won was the hero of the above Hankyoreh 21 cover in July, 2011.

Matt Hoey says,

"Kim Dong-won was arrested on August 24 for his role in a peaceful protest. On July 31st I was driving by the South Korean naval base construction headquarters and saw him praying while doing the 100 bows of peace. He had a radio playing spiritual music. A security guard was behind the gate occasionally watching him. Free Kim Dong-won!"

The below is the translation of his words in the above letter on Aug. 28

'The accident this time is of state power’s repression on local villagers, which is not only of naval base issue.It is merely a beginning. I see the 2nd 4. 3I see state power’s enormous conspiracy.Fighting, villagers and activists!And you should be tight in solidarity.We can do. No, we should do.That is the mission given to this era and to us.That is the test that God has given to us so that our descendents can live in this beautiful world.I emphasize again.We can do! We can win! No, we have already won!If we overcome a little more hardships and adversities, a permanent peace will wait for us in the future.Fighting! Villagers! Activists!'

Dear readers, i post a letter addressed to President Lee, that letter has been already sent to many officials and leaders of the World obviously it is open to comments...

Mr President Lee,

As a French citizen, I know that you are in a close relationship with the government of my country, notably on the G20 issue and the development of your nuclear program.

I write to you on behalf of my activists friends, in Korea and around the world, who are peacefully and honestly involved in the Gangjeong issue in Jeju island. We are puzzled by the situation in Jeju.
I wish to awake your heart and your mind, as well as the hearts and minds of the members of your government. You and we activists belong to the same human community.
I wish you to look at the cruelty of the current action in Gangjeong.
Do you remember that President Roh, after his term and before his suicide, did regret to authorize US military expansion on Jeju island?
Are you going to be a President who would leave a legacy of ecological and cultural damage into your country's history?
Can't you feel that allowing to build that naval base will have, on Jeju Island as well as on Asian Peace Process, countless destructive consequences?

We urgently need to dialogue with you and your representatives. Please Mr President, allow us to come to your table and share with you.

From my point of view, it seems like you are allowing military expansion to oppress your citizens who have been living on this island for generations when trauma of 1948 massacre still remains in Jeju people's soul and has to be healed.
It seems that you are allowing military expansion to destroy Jeju Island.
It seems that you are allowing military expansion to open the way to the loss of precious Jeju's cultural and natural heritage.

Please Mr President Lee, come out and explain to us what are the real motivations for opening a military harbour in Jeju.

Your friend Mikhail Gorbatchev participated in 1991 to the nomination of Jeju as "The Island of World Peace". The project of opening a "United Nation's Peace University" on Jeju is intensely being discussed in Asia.
Now the "New7wonders" election result is approaching.
And next year Jeju will be the host of the IUCN World Conservation Congress which is the world largest and most important conservation event.

Then, I encourage you to think about how it will appear in the mind of the world's population that a military base is under construction on this South Korean Island.
And please consider that a countless number of organizations and people all over the world are aware of the non-democratic means that are used against villagers and activists to impose the construction of the naval base in Gangjeong.

In fact it is a serious sin to prevent future children from visiting and enjoying the pristine beauty of Gureombi rock, an inheritated jewel of our gentle creation.

Don't you think that empowering Jeju to become a model touristic island, as well as an "educative Island for World Peace" is a genius idea?Unfortunately the presence of a military base would ruin the essence of those genuine achievements.

Also I understand your concerns about the national security. However, please make efforts to re-engage a dialogue with North-Korean government on the basis of the 4th of October 2007 declaration. It would be a serious and brave way to drive back your country into a permanent peaceful, politically more independant and prosperous direction. Allowing a military base which cannot protect your country against North-Korea would only escalate provocative tensions, worsening diplomatic relations with your neighbors, and it would dangerously expose Jeju as a war target.

As a peace activist, as a concerned being about the future of humanity and planet Earth, it is with determination that I request you to consider to stop immediately the construction of the naval base in Gangjeong. Also I encourage you to make a clear public appearance stating what is your opinion about building another military base in your country and its consequences for Asian Peace Process.

With my sincere wish for a fairly outstanding course of the remaining 14 months of your fonction, hoping that your presidency will leave a memorable legacy to South-Korea and to the rest of the world.

PS: I ask you to forgive me if my English way of writting is "Frenchised".

________________________________

While some people enjoy life, some other people struggle to make life possibly enjoyable for longer times. Your help is essential, be parents, activists or simply compassionate people. Engage yourself against the militarization of our planet, against the loss of farming values, against the disappearance of our indigenous cultures, against the robotization of Humanity. NO FEAR, JUST LOVE, JUST ACT NOW (Benj D'Amour)

It is the collection of photos on the police violence for a day of Aug. 24.

The first photo of the image says somebody got crack in his shoulder bone.

The words in the bottom of the image read:

The police wielded violence to many citizens during the process of illegal arrest of the mayor Kang, Gangjeong village. However the police are asserting that they were rather gotten violence from the citizens to hide their wrongdoings and the prosecutors are driving the situation to the public security incident.

See also video of collection of navy & police violence on the citizens.Click HERE

Via Facebook, we got the below message with an image three hours ago. It said what happened in the village in the evening of Aug. 28.

It said,

'Padre Moon is speaking during candle vigil. In this moment 60 riot police are sitting together with protesters. We are sitting surrounding of them.'

Something sucking thing is happening in the village? Through the other channel, I also got the below photos (Photo by Dauri via Director Cho). What does police presence mean in people's sit-in? It is unpreccedent.

Also see the below for his appealing speech for solidarity in Seoul on Aug. 27, 2011
_________________________
Return of Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

Yang Yoon-Mo, movie critic, returned back to the Gangjeong village. He had been arrested under the charge of obstruction on the business and others when he attempted to block a molds-laid car to prevent naval base construction by laying down his body underneath it on April 9, this year. He was released on June 1 with 2 years’ probation and since then was in hospital to recover his health. His 76 days hunger strike including prison fast has brought enormous nationwide and international concern with & solidarity for the struggle against Jeju naval base construction. See the video here to watch his interview before arrest and his struggle & arrest on April 6. See also the video on others’ assessment of how the Seogwipo Police Station has violently and illegally arrested him HERE (Korean but helpful)

Prof. Yang was released on June 1, 2011. Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun and villager Kim Jong-Hwan, the two currently restrained helped him to walk. Yang had done near 70 days' prison fast. (Photo by Nocut News)__________________________

Peace Bus visited Gangjeong

About 120 citizens of Ildo2-dong, Jeju City, carried in three buses visited the Gangjeong village amidst escalated tension since Aug. 24 when five people were arrested and three mentioned above were restrained. The 120 people expressed their solidarity with the Gangjeong villagers’ struggle saying that they wanted to spread the issues of wrongness of naval base construction in the Jeju Island.

There was some tension growing before their arrival in the village but the event went well and they remained the below beautiful banner.

There was people’s rally in front of Seoul Station to save Kim Jin-Sook and Hangin Heavy Industry workers in the evening of Seoul, on Aug 27 to 28. Kim Jin-Sook has held one-man protest on the top of a giant crane for more than 200days since the companies’ unjust lay-off of the 174 workers. About 5,000 people who gathered in Seoul also expressed their opposition against the Lee Myung-Bak government that is attempting to drive the nation toward the public security state. Fr. Moon Jung-Hyun came to the rally and delivered his speech to them appealing solidarity for the struggle against Jeju naval base construction. There were some citizens' signs for solidarity with the struggle against Jeju naval base construction.

Fr. Moon's speech in Seoul, on Aug. 27, 2011(Korean)Video by Dungree (Source: Gangjeong village people's council)________________________
Dolphins' solidarity?
Dolphins appeared in the Gangjeong coast in the morning of Aug. 27, 2011

...The 12th Jeju Women's Film Festival (September 22 to 25), in War and Women section, will show ' Living Along the Fenceline'.

Lina Hoshino, Gwyn Kirk and Deborah Lee, three female directors, documented seven courageous women living in Texas, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Okinawa, Korea, Guam, and Hawaii. Through their testimony we see how U.S. bases are spread all over the world and their impact on lives of these women and their neighbors.

[..]

These issues are specially important for Jeju.

A woman who lost her daughter to cancer, but she does not want to give this environment to her grand daughter. A woman who lost her uncle, aunt, and a cousin to cancer all within a year. The military culture that is pervasive in everyday lives of students in San Antonio, Texas. The sex industry hosting thousands of U.S. troops in the Philippines. The story of an Okinawan woman who was raped by US soldiers when she was a high school student. After listening to these women's stories one can not help but ask what is the security the military bases protect.

[URGENT PLEA: In Update] EMERGENCY in GANGJEONG Since AUG. 24, 2011_______________________________
FACE BOOKRelease Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun, Mr. Kim Jong-Hwan, and Mr. Kim Dong-Won immediately!_______________________________
On Aug. 24, police illegally attacked the village and arrested five people. While two are released on that night, the below three are still in jail. On Aug. 25 when Fr. Moon Jung-Hyun tried to save the restrained by climbing up to a police car carrying the three, he was arrested, too. He was released the next night. The below is a short description of who the three are. These are innocent villagers who simply wanted to save their hometown and a young photographer who just wanted to live life according to justice and consciousness. Living in South Korea, you can be any time ‘criminal’ if you want to live life as real human being, which is paradoxically guaranteed in Constitution. Please read the urgent PLEA, here. _______________________________
Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun, 54

Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun (54) has been elected as the mayor of Gangjeong village, in 2007 and has been a leading village figure against the naval base construction. If not a mayor, he is an innocent farmer who raises tangerines.

Since elected, he has thoroughly devoted himself to save the village from the building of war base, at the risk of his own health, his own family’s livelihood and his own imprisonment. That is why he is a still beloved and respected figure by most villagers after 4 years now. He did not mind his own sacrifice only if he could save his hometown.

Since, he has been in three years’ probation because of his struggle against naval base during the struggle, people concern about heavy court decision against him this time. He is in fifth day’s prison fast to protest illegal arrest of him since Aug. 24.

Mr. Kim Jong-Hwan(54) is one of the most dedicated villagers to save his hometown. Despite his shyness, people appreciate his kind heart and persistent will. Every morning in the coast, he would be the first one to watch the coast from any move of navy and company’s construction and begin to cook for his friends who would come to watch the coast along with him. He has always been with a dog, “Joongduk,’ which is named after the name of the coast. People love that sight and call him “Joongduk’s dad.” Now, where can Joongduk find his father as he is being imprisoned?

Nicole Erwin cites Mr.Kim Jong-Hwan's words in the Truthout. She has met him in July, this year:

Kim Jong Hwan, a local fisherman and protester, was among those named in the injunction.

"I'm not afraid because I didn't do anything wrong. I am a resident here. I have a right to be here. I live here and that is my right, as a resident and as a villager, so I am not afraid to be arrested. That is why I refuse the call from the Seogwipo stations," said Kim.

_______________________________
Photographer Kim Dong-Won, 25

Mr. Kim Dong-Won in the village courtesy hallPhoto resource unknown

Mr. Kim Dong-Won with friends in the village coastPhoto resource unknown

When people heard the news on the arrest of Mr. Kim Dong-Won, they were very shocked. He is common with Mr. Kim Jong-Hwan in very shyness and kindness. Further, he has mostly been a quiet witness in protest sites. Instead he would diligently take record of events with his camera. He would return back to computer and record the day’s event with his profound writings and beautiful pictures. But his insight is more shining in the moments of ordinary life that people easily pass by.

This time, he was charged under the name of ‘special obstruction of government affairs,’ while he just wanted to save mayor Kang when police attacked him like hyenas and dragged him to arrest.

When he has accidentally met an old and illiterate sea-diving woman this year, who said she was in favor of naval base in 2007 because she got indemnity from the navy, he left an essay after talk with her. Here are Kim’s words from that long essay:

I felt such pain in my heart… I wanted to say to her,“Grandma, You are never the one who destroyed the village. It is not just your fault.”It is the world where the beings that live most closely to nature become the weakest. Will there be any weaker beings than sea-diving women who throw their bodies under seawater?________________________________

Last week, we heard reports that 700 police from the South Korean mainland arrived at Jeju Harbor with buses and trucks bearing three large water cannons. The villagers have been vigilantly waiting for the police to strike.

They did the morning of August 24th. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Ann Wright wrote to us from Gangjeong village, “The sirens are blaring for citizens to come to the main gate of the Naval Base where construction is about to begin in an area that will destroy pristine lava fields and endanger marine life. The siren sounds like a tsunami siren in Hawaii signaling an emergency. And that is what it is.”

At 2 pm that day, Gangjeong Village Mayor Kang Dong-kyun approached military contractors who started the operation of a 250-ton crane that had been smuggled into the village in the middle of the night years ago. In asking that the illegal crane be dismantled and removed, the Mayor was forcefully taken into a police van along with a villager, Mr. Kim Jong-Hwan, and other civil society activists. For 10 hard and long hours, 100 villagers and peace activists used their bodies and cars to prevent the police from taking away the Mayor and others. While two activists have been released, the Mayor, Mr. Kim, Dongwan and Father Moon are still detained.

The villagers at Gangjeong know that orders have been sent from the top. Their resistance must be dealt with once and for all.

Why now? Because we’re starting to win the battle of public opinion. In one week, The New York Times published an Op Ed and the International Herald Tribune published another, both supporting the peaceful four-year resistance of the villagers with facts showing that this naval base would destroy unique environments, provoke China by surrounding it with a US anti-ballistic system, but would be incapable of protecting South Korea from North Korea.

One was by Gloria Steinem, a women’s movement organizer and peace activist. The other was by Christine Ahn of the Korea Policy Institute. Their factual pleas have set off more voices, including an Op Ed in the conservative-leaning Korea Times entitled, “Save Jeju Island – Island of Peace,” and an Open Letter from South Korean opposition leader Chung Dong-young, who not only opposed the naval base but once it is defeated, pledged to make its site into a peace park.

And with more voices has come greater coverage, from a feature article in The New York Times to CNN and Al-Jazeera’s coverage of recent protests.

As the world learns more and more about the danger to its treasure of global environment and culture, Jeju Island, and also more about the heroic efforts by ordinary farmers, fishermen, the legendary women sea divers and children to preserve their home and way of life, all are inspired and emboldened to believe that the side of peace, the environment and democracy does have a chance of prevailing.

But with more visibility comes fear and greater repression for those who are accustomed to dictating from above. That’s what we are now witnessing as hundreds of police join forces with the 1,000 already on Jeju.

In order to stay one step ahead, we need the support of friends far away, just as the military has friends in the Pentagon.

All of us—the nearly 5,000 people from 50 countries who have signed the petition to President Lee urging him to stop the naval base – are building global awareness of the danger to our global natural and cultural heritage on Jeju Island.

This takes regularly communicating with the world on what is happening in Gangjeong village, sowing seeds of peace in the media and among allies in the peace, environmental, human rights and women’s rights communities, and regularly updating the www.savejejuisland.org website with bilingual and multi-lingual bulletins.

We have an urgent appeal to all of you to join us in our effort to Save Jeju Island.

Its July reports describe efforts by the Citizens’ Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa (Okinawa BD) to obtain answers from the Okinawan Defense Bureau (the Japan Defense Bureau's branch in Okinawa) regarding U.S. military plans for training accident-prone military Osprey aircraft in biodiverse Yanbaru Forest. The Citizens’ Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa demanded a halt to the construction of helipads which the U.S. wants to locate in one of the most well-preserved areas of the forest, a habitat for numerous endangered species unique to northern Okinawa.

Okinawa Outreach also provided updates to the Okinawan Defense Bureau's November 2008 legal action against 15 residents of the Takae community (including a child), who, since July 2007, had been conducting a peaceful sit-in protest against the helipad construction on the prefectural road near the construction sites. Many consider this frivolous litigation, a SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) action, intended to intimidate and silence critics. The next hearing is scheduled for the end of August:

As of Aug. 26, four people including Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun and Fr. Moon Jung-Hyun got prosecutors' decision of restraint against them(Update: Fr. Moon was released around 10pm, Aug. 26)/ The government has indicted 23 people and the others among 70 are under government investigation/ The government held a public security meeting on Aug. 26 in two years to talk about crackdown measure against the protesters in the village/ But people's resistance will be stronger. A peace plane for solidarity with Gangjeong village flies on Sept. 3/ Please come by the below blogs for continuous update! Please spread news and consider what you can do to help people in Gangjeong!__________________________________________
URGENT PLEA

Hankyoreh, Aug. 26: Construction, protests and arrests intensify Jeju naval base standoff : With more police and civic involvement, stakes have risen for the base that is unpopular with local residents

About the Site

The site is managed by an artist living in the South Korea. The photo in the profile is the children in Osan, near the Pyeongtaek where the planned US military base hub in the north east Asia and a large US air base exists. They are the children of a teacher who manages the Children Peace School there. As a part of the class programs, the children in the class drew and wrote in a cloth, their wishes of the peaceful unification of Korea some day.